Since the allies (French and British forces) patrol the waters around Aruba, al four ships remain in neutral waters. Early January 1940 however the captain of the CONSUL HORN Johannes Roer decides it's time to try a daring escape. According to information I cannot confirm at present, the captain orders his crew to repaint the ship with markings making it look like a Russian freighter with the name "Modolets" and home-port Odessa, and sets course for Europe. The plan works out perfectly and the captain manages to deceive the French submarine AUGOSTA and US air reconnaissance. The choice is made to avoid the British channel and the CONSUL HORN takes the westerly route around Great Britain. Things nearly go wrong when the CONSUL HORN is passing the Orkneys and is hailed by the British Emerald class cruiser HMS ENTERPRISE. The half Russian half English reply by "the Modolets" is not very convincing and Captain Egerton of HMS ENTERPRISE decides to escort "the Modolets" to a nearby harbour. Fortune however is still with the crew of CONSUL HORN as HMS ENTERPRISE is called away for another more urgent assignment. (note: another source claims the vessel couldn't be boarded because of bad weather). In February 1940 the CONSUL HORN arrives in Europe. (note: eventually the Consul Horn struck a sea mine near the German island of Borkum on the 20th of July 1942 and sank).

(Consul Horn)

For the remaining ships the story works out somewhat different. Despite the fact that the allies increase their naval presence in the area the captains of the freighters HEIDELBERG and TROJA decide to attempt an escape on the night of the 29th of February 1940. Both ships leave Aruban neutral water under the cover of darkness and try to avoid any contact with allied naval vessels. Given the fact that the allies were previously deceived by the CONSUL HORN they have no intention of making that same mistake. As a result their escape does not go unnoticed. (note: it's not clear whether the ANTILLA left her position and fled back to neutral waters or never left her position at all).

  

 

The HEIDELBERG manages to evade the allies one more day. However on the 2nd of March 1940 she is intercepted by another D-class Light Cruiser HMS DUNEDIN, commanded by Captain Lambe sixty miles west, southwest of the Windward Passage. As ordered by Berlin the captain of the HEIDELBERG is forced to scuttle his ship. The HEIDELBERG disappears beneath the waves around 5 P.M., 25 crew members are picked up by HMS DUNEDIN. The crewmembers of the HEIDELBERG as well as the TROJA are being detained in an internmentcamp in Jamaica. (note: according to an eyewitness on HMS Dunedin the Heidelberg was carrying the name HEEMSKERK - Holland which suggests the Heidelberg also tried to escape using a false identity).